Eight days after a dramatic U.S. Open Cup win over FC Cincinnati and nearly two weeks after its last training session in Blaine, Minnesota United returned to training on Thursday at the National Sports Center ahead of Monday’s Round of 16 Open Cup matchup with the Houston Dynamo. Players were given ample time off to clear their heads, and they took the chance to get a change of scenery. Destinations ranged from Miami to New York City, from Cancún to a cabin in Nebraska.

A refresher may have been a necessity given the high-stakes atmosphere at Nippert Stadium. Playing against the darlings of the 2017 Open Cup, eliminating the hosts wasn’t an easy ask. With key players like Rasmus Schüller, Francisco Calvo, and Darwin Quintero out of consideration for various reasons, non-regular starters were forced into action and largely delivered on the day. Coming off of a gutting loss in Kansas City, it was a needed salve.